Morning journal and courier., 1887-09-19
ENTRENoHED AND DEFIANT.

SocieSy-A Pastors Vigorous Plea for
 Absolute PrOhl bitiOn.
 The services at the East Pearl street NJ. B. church last evening were very interesting and the sermon was listened to by large and appreciative audience when Rev. HI. Good enough, the pastor, delivered his temperance sermon on "Entrenched and defiant rum" The text was from Samuel, IF, 10. "And the Philistine said, defy the armies of Israel this day." After speaking of the curse and evil consequences of intemperance and the poverty, misery and crime which it occasion ed the speaker said:
 Either we are blind or wicked. We have either lost the power of perception or we are culpably negligent. I mean this: There are certain facts which ought to be apparent to every thinking mind. First, poverty. The withered hands of ten thousand men, women and children are outstretched for the gifts of the benevolent. It is terrible thing to be poor, to have to live on stale bread, decaying vegetables and tainted meat, to stand shiyer- ing in the cutting December wind, no bed, no clothing, Giving these people money will never make them rich or even relieve their sufferings. What we want to do is to shut up the dens that take their money from them. The best and only "anti-poverty" society is the society that would destroy at @ blow the greedy rum traffic, for nine-tenths of the poverty of our land is the result of rum.
 Then the misery of this world is some thing startling. There is misery indeed where poverty is, but there is grief in many of the homes of plenty, Christian homes where poverty is not known, all because some dear one, husband or son, has yielded to the debasing influence of rum. And there is one other thing besides misery, viz:
 crime. If we do not see these things we are
 wilfully blind. If we do see them we are
 culpably wrong in permitting them. How
 can it be remedied? We will see. Here are
 million saloon-keepers, not one of whom is carrying on the business because he likes it, but because he loves the money which it
 yields in such rich abundance. The million
 saloon-keepers I call 'fThe Defiant Philistine." :"
 It is useless to reason with him. Ask him
 by what authority he carries on his diaboli-
 cal business and he very deliberately shows you piece of paper, with the government stamp and signature of Uncle Sam attached.
 Now we are proud of our constitution and of our republican form of government. take second place to no man in my respect and
 love for the constitutional government of this country. Yet we have black stain, yea, cancerous growth on our State and na- tiona1 government which is already weaken- ing the constitution and which if not speed fly cut out by the prohibition knife, life it. self will be imperiIed The government is
 
 shame and sorrow. And this is permitted by the people, not because they believe it necessary, but solely for ''flthy 1ucre.' All
 this with the peoples consent. I say the
 people are blind or wicked.
 Is there @ remedy? What is it? When can we have it2 If there be no remedy Christianity is 8 failure and the rum traffic will be king But we have a remedy, and the moment the people have courage to ap- ply it the whole business will be settled. That remedy is absolute prohibition of the manufacture of intoxicants. As long as it
 is sold meu will drink it. AS long as men
 drink it there will be drunkards. National prohibition will not come right away.
 There must be much wise and earnest work
 if it come at all. Think of the work of 8
 Lyman Beecher and an eloquent Cough,
 and hundreds of lesser lights. Women, Gods
 best gift to man, the greatest sufferers in consequence of the traffic, have wept and prayed and kpelt on curbstones and pleaded. But up to this time Christian nation has hardened its heart and turned deaf ear. The infamous business has been prospering, growing rich, entrenching itself and to-day is defiant and laughs in the face of Christen- dom. give you my plan of procedure: First outlaw the liquor seller. The rum business is illegitimate and a man who is engaged in it should have no standing in society Second moral
 If you cannot close all the saloons close what you S1 ,oOo wifi do 1t am for high license Fourth loo cal option; The voters of this town can prohibit the sale of rum if they wish.
 Let us go for no license this fall. What may be reckoned on for this work? The seventy pastors and churches, the grand army of consecrated women, the temperance | societies and surely the third party. I ask | in the name of God is there not courage and
 force enough here to prohibit rum in this ! town?
 Just word on the impotency of temper
 ance armies. Our divisions are our weak | nesses. The enemy is one. And his one- l ness is his strength.
 The church of God is split up into isms. The temperance army is split up into fac tions. The Repu blicans wish to fight the bat ! tie on one line, the third party on another. So they turn and club each other. Our di- visions are our weaknesses. If we are really anxious to do something, let us begin right | here at home, and I suggest the following: | the church composed of persons, independent of party, who favor the closing of saloons in our ,. A united and lively campaign; sermons in eve ry pulpit, public meetings and house to house visi- | tations by temperance women.
 | 3. The appointment of a citizens committee of one hundred gentlemen, who will see that the law
 is enforced and that public officers do their duty. All this is practical and possible. Who | will be the first to move? The sermon was listened to with the closest attention. BACK FROM PHILADELPHIA. ! The Veteran Firemen Return Home From the Centennial and Are Heart. 1 lily Welcomed.
 l The Veteran Volunteer Firemen's associa ton returned Saturday evening from it's triI
 to Philadelphia. They came up from New ! York on the steamer c. H. -Northam, anG | were met at Belle dock by their friends anG | fellow iremen. The line of march was
 then taken up for the association rooms I The order of procession was as follows: Sons of Veterans Drum Corps. Admiral Foote Post. G. A R. ! Big Four Drum Corps
 | Winchester Hose Co.,, with Machine \ Winchester Cadets
 ! Sassacus Drum Corps.
 | Call Men of the New Haven Fire Department | American Band.
 | Veteran Firemen'S Association. | Sons of Veteran Bremen.
 There was plentiful display of firework.
 along the line. The veterans report them
 selves as highly pleased with their trip
 Their reception was an enthusiastic one and
 thousands of people were out to see the Vets
 and it was a splendid welcome home. The ] veterans record in Philadelphia was one { which reflected honor upon their city. l ID. S. RUDDOCK.
 ' A New London Veteran Republican Politician Dead.
 '